Wisdom 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men.	1 Better is childlessness with virtue; for immortal is its memory: because both by God is it acknowledged, and by men.
2 When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards.	2 When it is present men imitate it, and they long for it when it is gone; And forever it marches crowned in triumph, victorious in unsullied deeds of valor.
3 But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation.	3 But the numerous progeny of the wicked shall be of no avail; their spurious offshoots shall not strike deep root nor take firm hold.
4 For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not last, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.	4 For even though their branches flourish for a time, they are unsteady and shall be rocked by the wind and, by the violence of the winds, uprooted;
5 The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing.	5 Their twigs shall be broken off untimely, and their fruit be useless, unripe for eating, and fit for nothing.
6 For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.	6 For children born of lawless unions give evidence of the wickedness of their parents, when they are examined.
7 But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.	7 But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
8 For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.	8 For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.
9 But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.	9 Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
10 He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.	10 He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported--
11 Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.	11 Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul;
12 For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.	12 For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.
13 He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:	13 Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career;
14 For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.	14 for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.
15 This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.	15
16 Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.	16 Yes, the just man dead condemns the sinful who live, and youth swiftly completed condemns the many years of the wicked man grown old.
17 For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.	17 For they see the death of the wise man and do not understand what the LORD intended for him, or why he made him secure.
18 They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn: and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore.	18 They see, and hold him in contempt; but the LORD laughs them to scorn.
19 For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.	19 And they shall afterward become dishonored corpses and an unceasing mockery among the dead. For he shall strike them down speechless and prostrate and rock them to their foundations; They shall be utterly laid waste and shall be in grief and their memory shall perish.
20 And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.	20 Fearful shall they come, at the counting up of their sins, and their lawless deeds shall convict them to their face.